Bye-bye Basement Air

[JMonroe]

We used to be able to use two A/C units on our Tiffin on 30 amps (and on our current coach, but not all three)

[Harry B]

I have three 15000 btu AC units. Each unit draws 16 amps. That is just to much to run two units on a 30 amp circuit. It would have been better if the middle unit was 13000 btu unit, then I would be able to run two units on a 30 amp circuit.
Project for the future I guess - replace the middle 15000 btu AC with a 13000 btu unit 😁

[Steverino]

A word of caution - I had a bad experience when ordering a replacement rooftop air unit (Coleman) from an RV parts supplier. Price was good, however the box wasn't up to the rigors of shipping. The A/C unit was pretty beat up inside the falling-apart box. Due to an impending trip departure, I ended up straightening the bent chassis and using it anyway. Been working fine for two summers now, so all's well I guess.

But IMHO if you're ordering online it's worth asking how it's packaged for shipping. Were I to do it again, I might buy locally - it might be worth the extra $$ just so that I could inspect it before accepting it at the store. That way returning a bent-up unit would be the store's problem and not mine...

[capnj]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

How did you run the wiring to the roof openings? I suspect through the roof ducting, but you may have a better way.

The power was fed from the existing basement air breakers at the foot of bed . Went forward under carpet ,removed a panel in forward wall and then up to ceiling and into overhead central air duct on driver side. Ran a set of dead wires from breaker box all the way to front of coach, also inside ductwork, just in case we later decided we wanted to add a third unit. More than likely not going to need it , but already in place . the thermostat wires are small, like telephone wires so they were easy to install behind the panel. the thermostat will handle up to 4 units so no problem there. hardest part was finding latches for outside compartment. Correction on my previous posts: Work was done by Texas Country RV, Canyon Lake ,TX. ,( Not Canyon Lake RV.) Joe Ruff is the owner and very capable.

[Vectraguy]

I just dont understand this, my Vectra is 20 years old and on a 20 amp outlet we could hang meat in the coach last July 4th with only one side running? Maybe its because we are still running the older evil Freon that actually works versus the new stuff. If ours dies I will re-invent the wheel to repair it before I throw a roof AC on my coach and have water running down the sides and listen to those things shake the roof. If I want that Ill go back to a travel trailer. Sorry to sound negative but is it really that hard to find someone that really knows what they are doing to fix a technology that's nearly 100 years old?

[capnj]

Originally Posted by Vectraguy

I just dont understand this, my Vectra is 20 years old and on a 20 amp outlet we could hang meat in the coach last July 4th with only one side running? Maybe its because we are still running the older evil Freon that actually works versus the new stuff. If ours dies I will re-invent the wheel to repair it before I throw a roof AC on my coach and have water running down the sides and listen to those things shake the roof. If I want that Ill go back to a travel trailer. Sorry to sound negative but is it really that hard to find someone that really knows what they are doing to fix a technology that's nearly 100 years old?

There are a lot of things in this world we don't understand friend. But one thing I understand, is that I fix, or have fixed, things the way I want them. We can still run one unit on 20 amp and will cool very nicely, but I don't really care , as we only use 30 amp at our sticks and stucco and 50amp when on the road. My post was meant for those thinking about changing ,not those who would never change. Who knows what another 20 yrs. technology will bring? I hope you will be here to see, I'm pretty sure I will not.

[JohnBoyToo]

We actually LIKE the noise the overhead makes

In fact, we usually have the bedroom unit on fan even when using the other two as heat pumps...

It's the old constant white noise versus the dead silence and the unit cycles on and off or when things go bump in the night thingy

people partying later than us ,
coming into the next site late at night,
storms during the night, etc...
I know I would enjoy quiet, but even when we are in the middle of nowhere, it's never seems quiet where we end up.

[Kiwi]

Put me in the NEVER AGAIN camp for basement air. Here are some facts:
1) Duct runs up rear cap to ceiling distribution. Humidity cause that rear duct to open. Repair required removing the rear cap. Could have bought a roof air just for that cost.
2) Any A/C guy with a set of gauges and a vacuum pump can repair a roof unit. They look at the basement air and run.
3) Storage is a premium, no matter how you travel and in what. Why take a big chunk of basement for something that travels well on the roof.
4) The basement unit was right under my pillow. I would rather deal with the overhead purrrrr than that.
5) My Newmar with ducted roof air is awesome in both performance and ease of access.

[Vectraguy]

My ac did not run up the rear cap. But, with slide outs being placed everywhere I can see why manufacturer's had to end up going that route and are now using more roof air.

[Duner]

Originally Posted by Vectraguy

My ac did not run up the rear cap. But, with slide outs being placed everywhere I can see why manufacturer's had to end up going that route and are now using more roof air.

off topic, but really curious, your duct work goes up inside the outer wall?

If so, it's too bad they didn't do them all that way. The ducting should last a long time compared to the inside the rear cap where the temps are extreme for the metal tape to hold well for a long time.

[Vectraguy]

Originally Posted by Duner

off topic, but really curious, your duct work goes up inside the outer wall?

If so, it's too bad they didn't do them all that way. The ducting should last a long time compared to the inside the rear cap where the temps are extreme for the metal tape to hold well for a long time.

The Vectra Grand Tour had a chase that ran up from under the kitchen cabinets, to behind the spice rack and coffee maker and into the ceiling duct. You really cant see it but it's nearly centrally located to the coach. The cold air return goes in at the toe kick panel at the kitchen sink.